EIGHT TIPS TO GET THROUGH BLUE MONDAY

1.

Don’t focus on happiness – it is not the goal in life. Focus on and engage with other people; don’t shy away from discomfort. 2.

Reframe your attitude to emotional pain. “Pain is more of a challenge than a threat,” says Bastian. 3.

Be aware of the modern cult of happiness and how that influences us. Challenge “promises”. 4.

Value pain – by developing a more open, understanding and being accepting of pain we are better equipped to respond. 5.

Take risks – it is important for mental health, and our fear of misfortune fosters an overly protectionist mindset. 6.

Look for discomfort rather than comfort: push your body rather than resting it, plan holidays seeking novel and challenging experiences rather than luxurious ones. 7.

Learn to meditate as it trains our ability to manage our minds, providing us with a powerful tool that helps us to better regulate our emotions. 8.

Think about death: the more we engage with our mortality the more we focus on things that matter.